Reversing-switch for electrical circuits.



No. 814,322. PATBNTED MAR. B, 190. T. S. PBRKXNS. REVERSING SNTCH FUR ELECTRICAL G1R@ APPLIGAIIN FILED IUNB 6,1801

BITS.

- SHEETS" SHEET 1y @#0 @6M www A Y UORNEY PATENIED MAR. u IQU,

.'I. S PERKINS. REVBRSING SWITCH IR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.

PILIGATION FILED FINE i5, i994.

wiTNEssEs:

Y l? QVENIQR i 4?@ MMIII UNITED STATESL PATENT- OFFICE.

THOMAS S. PERKINS, F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, J'SSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC @a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COR- PORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

HEVERSING-SWETOH FOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March B, 1906.

l Y Application tiled Tune 6, 1904. Serial No. 211.367.

ffl'o alb whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, THOMAS S. PERKINS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Reversing- Switches for Electrical Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates toV switches for electrical circuits, and particularly to such as are employed for the purpose of reversing the direction of the current in either the ieId-magnet or armature-windings of one or more electrical motors.

15 My invention has for its object to provide a switch for the purposev indicated which is simple in lconstruction and which may he ioperated by anyconvenient means that is susceptible of control from a more or less rezc mote point.

i In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a view, partially in plan and partially in section, of the apparatus comprising my invention. Fi 2 1s a view, partially in side a# elevation an partiaily in vertical section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying my invention.

In the operation of electric` cars which are 3o equipped with one or more motors it is necessary to reverse the direction of the current through either the field-magnet or armature-- windings of the motors in order to reverse 'the direction of rotation of the armatures, and this 3 5 has ordinarily been done b means of a handoperated switch to which t e terminals of the said windin s are connected. Itis desirable, however, W en severai. motors of large can :witg are to be controlled, or when several 4o ars, each of which isy equipped with several otors, are' to be controlled om a singlepoint in he train, that the reversing-switches be acua by some convenient means which ma e c trolled by the saine master-switch whic 45 c nt ls the speed of the motors.

Mo nted upon arectangularwooden block 1 or a bl k of any other suitable insulating'materia] Y conducting-strips 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9, thastraight strips 2 and 3 being mount- 50 ed upon the op osito side of the block from that to which` t e strips 4 and 5 ,aresecured The strips 6, 7, S, and 9 are U-shaped and are mounted so that cach has contact-surfaces on opposite sides of the block 1. Y

The block 1 is rigidly connected to the ends of and is actuated by the movable por- ,tions 10 and 11 of solenoid-cores, the coils 12 and 13 for which are inclosed by iron shells 15 of such form that the circuits for the inagn netic liuxes produced by the windings are complete except for gaps 16 between the movable portions 1U and 11 of the solenoidcores and stationary portions 17. The free ends 18 of the movable portions 10 and 11 of the solenoid-cores have conical shapes, and

-the ends'of the stationary portions 17, with which the movable portions are adapted to engage, have corresponding conical depressions 19, the object of this construction being to provide a maglnetic circuit having a mmiinuinair-gap wit 1 a maximumamount of travel-of the movable portions 10 and 11.

Secured to the respective iron shells 15 are insulating-blocks 20 and 21,l upon which are mounted contact-fingers 22, 23, 24, and and 26, 27, 28, and 29, respectivel iin ers 22, 23, 26.an`d 2? being so disposed t at .t eyengage theconducting-strips 7, 6, 9, and 8, respec-Y tively, on the one side of the block l and the remaining lingers 24, 25, 28,' and 29 Yso that they engage the conducting-strips 6, 7,8, and 9 on'the opposite side of the `sleek.

In Figs. l and 2 I have shown each of the Y contact-ingers as comprising two inde end- .ently-spring-actuated elements in or er to increase-the current-carrying capacity of the switchbut evidenti the' lingers may comprise Van other nulnliier of independently-actuated e ements, depending upon the amount of current which the reversing-switch is' required to conduct. K v

Secured to the conical end ,18 of the movable portion 10 of one of the solenoid-cores and movable therewith is a rod 30, having at its outer end an. insuiating drum ,onblock 31 upon the opposite sides of which are mounts conducting-strips 32 and 33 of an interlock-V ing switch 34. Secured to the corresponding end of the ma net-shell 15,' isn insulatingblock, upon w ich are mounted contact-fingers 3,5, 3e, 37, ss, 39andf10; ,the angers 35,

36, and 37 beineadaptd @engage with the roo roi

conducting-stri 32 and the fingers 3S, 39, and 4U being at apted to engage with the con-- ducting-strip 33.

Evidently the details of oiistriiction of the switehiand the o `)erating means may be varied considerably llrcm what is shown and ilescribed, and/ Vthe switch may be actuated in conjunction with the reversing-switch by any suitable ineans other than the rod 30 Without departing from the invention.

In Fi 3 1 have shown a simple system of control or two electric motors, one of the elcments of which is a reversing-switch that enibodies my invention. Ain-aster-switch arm 41 is connected directly to a trolley T or to any other suitable terminal device of a source of energy, and contact-terminals 42 and .43 are respectively connected to contact-fingers 36 and 39 of the interlocking switch 34 with which the respective conducting-strips 32 and 33 constantly engage. A solenoid 44, one terminal of which is connected to the contact-terminals 35 and 4() and the other to thc ground G, is em loyed to operate a unitswitch 45 or any ot ier suitable device, which is'eniployed for closing a circuit throu h a resistance R, thf` reversiiig-switchand t ie inotors 46 and 47. ln a more elaborate system of control more than one solenoid 44 would probably be employed for the purpose ol operating switches which cut out resistance from the motor-circuits or which connect the motors in series or in parallel relation to each other. It is possible to arrange these solenoids to operate `in an indefinite number of combinations, a description of which is not necessary to a full understandin of the present invention. Terminalsof eac iof the opel'- ating-solenoids 124 and I3 are rcsiectively connected to contact-fingers 38 and 37, and the other two terminals are connected to gather and to the ground G.

If the master-controller switch-arm 41 is in position to make contact with the terminal 42, the reversing-switch occupies the osition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, which position may be assumed to correspond to forward motion of a car o" train upon which the system is installed. The circuit is then coinpleted from the trolley T, through the inaster-controller switch-arm 41, contact-terminal 42, contact-linger 36 conducting-'strip 32 contact-finfer 35 solenoid 44 tof-the 7 b 7 y ground G. 'llie switch 45 is then closed and the main motor-circuit is from the trolley T," through the switch 45, resistance R, contactmger 22, conducting-strip 7, and coiitact-'inger 25, armature 48, contact-Unger 23, conducting-strip contact-finger 24, field-inagnet winding 4Q, contact-linger 26, conducting-strip 9, contact-finger 2Q, armature 50, l contact-finger 27, cond noting-stri p 8, contactl linger 28, field-magnet winding 5l, to the ground (l. lf, however, it is desired to reverse the motion of the car or train, the inaster-controller switch-arm 4l will be moved to engage contact-terminal 43S, thereby closinlf a circuit from the trolley T, through the switch-arm 4l, terminal 43, contact-linger 39, conducting-strip 35%, routard-linger 38, and solenoid l2, to the ground G. Energizing of the solenoid 12 ell'ccts the operation of thc reversing-switch and causes the conducting-strips of the reversing-switch and interlocking switch to assume the position sliown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Then the circuit is completed from the trolley T, thnough the switch-arm 4l, terminal 43, contact-finger 39, conducting-strip 33, contact-finger 40, and solenoid 44, to the ground G. The main motor-circuit is then from the trolley T, through the switch 45, resistance R, contact- Vlinger 22, conducting-strip 2, contact-finger 23, armature 4S, contact-linger 25, conducting-strip 4, contact-linger 24, field-magnet winding 49, contact-linger 2o, conductingstrip 3, contact-finger 27, armature 50, contact-finger 29, conihitting-strip 5, contactiinger 2Q, and field-magnet*winding 51, to the ground G. ln this position of the reversing-switch the direction of the lloW of current through the armatures 4S and 5() is reversed from what it is when the reversingswitch is in the position shown in full lines, and consequently the direction of rotation of the armatures is reversed.

The reversing-switch may be o erated by anjT suitable means other than e ectromagneticwsuch, for instance, as pneumatic de.- vices having valves which are Toverned by electromagnets the circuits of w iich may be controlled from a remote point.

Other features of the reversing-switch may evidently be varied within limits from what is shown and described without de arting from the spirit of the invention, and do not wish the invention to be limited except by such restrictions as 'are iniposed by the prior art.

I claim as my invention 1 The combination withtwo sets of stationary crintact-terminals each of which com rises `two pairs, oi a longitudinally-movable lock having two sets of contact-strips that engage the corresponding stationary contact-terminals to connect them in different relations, and means for actuating said block.

2. The combination with two sets of con-.

tact-fingers cachot' which comprises two pairs, of a longitudmadly-movable l) ock having two `sets of contact-strips corresponding to the sets of contiwt-iingers, one pair of each set of strips serving to connect fingers of the same pair together and the other pair of strips serving to coiniect fingers of till'erent pairs t0- IIO either direction.

3. A switch comprising two sets of contactingers, each of w ich comprises two pairsJ two sets of conducting-strips, a support therefor and means for moving said support longitudinally in either direction so that one pair of strips in each set serves to connect 'lingers of-the same pair together and the other pair of strips serves to connect lingers of different pairs together.

4. A switch comprising two sets of pairs of contact-fingers, two sets of pairs of conducting-strips, a support therefor and means for moving said Support longitudinally to cause the strips torespec'tively engage sind electrically'connect contact-fingers ol' the respective sets' in one combination ior one position oi the switch and in another conihination for the other position of the switch.

5. A switch comprising a longitudinallymovable block of non-conductin material and two sets of' pairs of conducting-strips mounted thereon and two sets of pairs or contact-fingers disposed at lopposite sides ol" said block end arranged tp so engage said strips as to connect iin ers of the saine pair tog/ether or lingers of dil crent airs together according Vto the position of the lock.

6. A switch comprising a block o' non-conducting material, two sets of pairs of conducting-stri s mounted thereon and two sets of airs o contact-lingers disposed at opposite sides of said block and arranged to so en age said strips as to either connect ingersn the saine pair. orfingers of diilerent pairs together, and means, for eilecting longitudinal movement of said block. 7. A switch comprising two sets of pairs of contact-fingers, a longitudinally-movable block of non-conducting material and two sets of pairs of conducting-strips mounted thereon, the strips of one set being arranged to electrically connect the contact-lingers of one pair or of different pairs of one set together and the strips of the other set to electrically connect the fingers ofone pair or of diferent pairs of the other set tovether, eccording to the position of the bloc S. A switch coinprisin r contact-lingers, a longitudinally-movable )lock of non-conducting material and setsof conducting-strips mounted thereon one set of strips having engaging surfaces for said fingers on one side only of said block and the otherv` set having 'means actuated by engaging surfaces on two' or more sides thereof.

9. A switch eoinprisin contact-fingers, a longitudinallymovable lock oi' non-oond noting material and sets of conducting-strips mounted thereon, one set of stri s extending laterally across one side of said liloek and the other set partially across two sides thereof.

l0. A switch comprising two sets of pairs ot contact-lingers, two sets of pairs of laterally-movable conducting-stri s arran red to engage res iectively therewit and eeotromagnets which are res ectively energized to eliect the movement o said strips in the one direction or the other to connect contact-iingers of one pair or of different pairs together.

il. A switch coi'nprising two sets of pairs of contact-lingers, two sets Aof pairs oi" laterelly-movable conducting-strips arranged to engage respectively therewith, magnet-windings and armatures therefor which carry said conducting-strips.

1.2. A switchcoinprising two sets of pairs of contact-fingers, a longitiiilinslllV-nivable block oi insulatingqnintoiiul, two sets of pairs of eondnctiiig-strips mounted thereon and electroniagnets having their arn'iatures attached to said block.

13. A switch comprising two sets of lpairs of contact-iingcrs, a loneitudinally-movable block of insulating material, two sets of pairs of conducting-strips mounted thereon, ma net-windings and armatures therefor whic support said block.

14. A switch comprising vcontact-fingers, sets of laterally-movable contact-strips arranged to engage respectively therewith, magnet-windings, armatures therefor which carry said conducting-strips and controlling means for said magnet -windings operated by the movement of the switch.

15. A switchV comprising comet-fingers,

sets of laterally-movable conducting-str1 s arranged to engage respectively therewit operatin magnet-windings, armatures there- -for whic carry said conducting-strips and the movement of the4 switch `for making and breaking the circuits of the operating magnet-windings. A

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of May, 1904. THOMAS Si PERKINS.

Witnesses: H. B. MYER, Binner Hines,

TOO 

